Clean Water Act Fines Have Increased!

In the May 2, 2018 Federal Register, the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers (COE) issued a final rule that increased the penalties for all violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to a maximum of $53,484 per day per violation. The COE periodically adjusts these fines for inflation in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. This minimal annual increase follows the more significant “catch-up” increase implemented in 2016 to ensure that these fines are substantial enough to actually discourage violations. You can read more about the 2016 increase in our August 2016 Field Notes article.

You must consider CWA regulations and potential impacts to wetlands and other Waters of the US throughout your project lifecycle – from land planning through construction and monitoring, including stormwater management. Violations of the CWA are costly and can derail your project schedule and budget. Wetland Studies and Solutions has been at the forefront of the evolution of these regulations for over 26 years, and throughout this time we have expanded our services so we can help you with any and all tasks associated with Clean Water Act permitting. Contact Christie Blevins, Mike Klebasko, and Mark Headly today to take advantage of our wealth of experience and expertise and keep your projects compliant with the CWA.